His letter to Tony Blair, published in the Sunday Times, said: "For you to question the whole of the BBC's journalistic output across a wide
range of radio, television and online services because you are concerned about
particular stories which don't favour your view is unfair."

Mr Dyke said in the letter the BBC had made strenuous efforts to ensure the issues and
events surrounding the war were properly reported.

Although he had assured Mr Blair he would not publish the letter, Mr Dyke said he had chosen to because it demonstrated the "intense pressure" Number 10 was putting on the
BBC.

He told the Sunday Times the Hutton report had "completely failed to acknowledge" that pressure.

Mr Dyke received support from thousands of BBC staff on Saturday, when the Daily Telegraph published a full-page advertisement signed for and paid for by employees.

The advert said: "Greg Dyke stood for brave independent and rigorous BBC journalism that was fearless in its search for the truth".

'Draw a line'

A Downing Street spokesman said: "We are not going to comment on
confidential correspondence.

"Lord Hutton looked at a particular accusation and judged that it was
unfounded.